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Monthly Archives: June 2009

Leicestershire’s ‘Stay, Play, Explore’ family short break package

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Posted by Paul on June 24, 2009 – 11:35 pm
Filed under Accommodation, Attractions

Award-winning historical visitor attraction, Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park, has joined forces with other top family attractions and hotels in Leicester and Leicestershire to offer the hugely popular Stay, Play, Explore family short break package.

Bosworth Battlefield joins Conkers, Snibston, Twycross Zoo and the National Space Centre as the principal attractions in the campaign, where a family of four can visit any three of the participating attractions and enjoy a night’s accommodation at participating Leicestershire-based hotels for as little as £99. Family tickets to the attractions can also be bought without accommodation for just £60 – at a saving of up to 60%.

All England Open Skimming Championships 2009… for mascots!

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Posted by Paul on June 24, 2009 – 11:27 pm
Filed under Attractions, Events

South Cumbria Rivers Trust is assembling a line-up of some of North West England’s most competitive and well-loved mascots as it prepares to stage the All England Open Skimming Championships’ inaugural mascot stone skimming contest, on 3rd July 2009.

This new event takes place the day before the official All England Open Skimming Championships, which will be staged at The Coniston Boat Hire Centre, Coniston Pier, on 4th July, with the first ‘fly’ as it is termed, at 10am.

The mascots will skim for glory in exactly the same location, at 2pm on 3rd July, with the line-up currently including Oscar the Otter (Lakes Aquarium), Plumpton the Bear (Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway) and Digger The Badger (Cumbria Wildlife Trust).

The mascot competition is expected to draw its own crowd of spectators and supporters who are sure to be highly entertained by the antics of the furry ‘flyers’. Organiser Ben Lamb says: “Whilst the general stone skimming competition requires skill and dexterity, with the winner being the one who achieves the greatest distance, having bounced the stone three times and kept within the designated lane marked out by buoys, the mascots will face their own challenges.

“Using paws, dealing with wobbly heads and managing to keep tails out of the way should all be interesting obstacles to overcome in the fight to be crowned champion mascot stone skimmer.”

Picture of the day: Carbisdale Castle, Scotland

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Posted by Jennifer on June 24, 2009 – 9:00 am
Filed under Attractions

Today’s picture of the day is of Carbisdale Castle.  It is located on the South bank of the Kyle of Sutherland and was built between 1906 and 1917.  It has a fascinating history and today provides accommodation as a youth hostel, as well as being open to the public to show off its wonderful rooms and treasures.

A garden inspired by a princess

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Posted by Paul on June 24, 2009 – 7:33 am
Filed under Attractions

Discover a garden inspired by a princess. Designed by award-winning garden designer and TV presenter, Chris Beardshaw and opening to the public this month, the new Princess Beatrice Garden at Carisbrooke Castle is a delight. The inspiration for the Edwardian-style garden with pretty period planting, a fountain, clipped hedges and an orchard of fruit trees came from Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s daughter, who once lived at the castle as Governor of the Isle of Wight.

Good value breaks in Jersey this Summer

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Posted by Paul on June 23, 2009 – 5:36 pm
Filed under Accommodation, Attractions, Events, Transport

Specialist tour operator, Channel Islands Direct, is offering two exclusive late deals to encourage Brits to discover the beauty of Jersey this summer. To guarantee that holidaymakers receive the best price available, they promise to match any like for like quote at the time of booking.

The largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey is home to beautiful sandy beaches and rugged cliffs, ideal for walking and cycling. Summer in the capital, St Helier, offers a number of festivals including the Jersey Fish Festival (25th July 2009) featuring seafood cooking demonstrations, craft stalls and entertainment, and the Battle of the Flowers, culminating in the Grand Day Parade (13th August 2009) and the Moonlight Parade (14th August 2009).

Enjoy views across St Aubin’s Bay, Elizabeth Castle or the marina with a stay at the four-star Radisson Waterfront Hotel in St Helier. Four-night breaks start from just £289 per person including accommodation, daily breakfast, transfers and travel by sea from Weymouth. For departures from Gatwick, Luton, Liverpool or Plymouth, packages start from £319. Travel is from 1st July to 31st August 2009.

Relax with two nights at the four-star Hotel de France from £235 per person, including accommodation, breakfast, transfers and travel by sea from Weymouth. For departures from Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or Southampton, packages start from £255. Holiday must be booked by 30th June 2009 and is valid for travel 10th July to 31st August 2009.

Alternative regional departures are available with both packages at a supplement. Prices quoted are per person, based on two adults sharing and are subject to availability.

To book visit www.channelislandsdirect.co.uk/special_offers

The impact of cruise tourism on North East England

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Posted by Paul on June 23, 2009 – 3:50 pm
Filed under Transport

You could be forgiven for thinking that cruise tourism isn’t that important in the UK, but the reality is that that has changed considerably in recent years.  According to a recent report commissioned by regional development agency One North East, cruise tourism contributes more than £5 million to the region’s economy. This is an increase from £3.9m in 2006 and means that cruise tourism is well on its way to hitting a target of being worth £6.5m by 2015.

The report also showed that the Port of Tyne had received a total of 73,241 cruise tourists between 2006 and 2008, making it one of the fastest growing ports in Europe!

A new cruise brochure has been launched, giving tour planners all the information they need to organise their next trip from itinerary ideas to information about the port.  For more information, visit Cruise North East England.

Under occupancy discounts in Cornwall, including the Summer holidays

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Posted by Paul on June 23, 2009 – 3:35 pm
Filed under Accommodation

Don’t think you have to downsize to fit your budget – it’s not all gloom and doom this summer! Small parties can benefit from generous under occupancy discounts on some larger properties in Cornwall including some school holiday savings of up to £324 on a seven night stay for a family of 4 in Cornwall.

Ash Lodge (sleeps 6), Beech Lodge (sleeps 8 ) and Cedar Lodge (sleeps 8 ) are three luxury log homes at Retallack, conveniently located for Padstow, Wadebridge and Newquay, are well equipped, have lovely countryside views, and yet are only 15 minutes drive from a selection of sandy surfing beaches.

And Cornish Horizons are offering parties of 4 or less a generous 25% discount on all weeks excluding Christmas and New Year. This means for a school holiday bargain of seven nights commencing 22nd August 2009 at Cedar Lodge for just £973 for parties of 4 or less, rather than the usual price of £1297 (a saving of £324). Property details and graphics can be found here.

Special offer from Barceló Hotels & Resorts, UK

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Posted by Paul on June 23, 2009 – 3:07 pm
Filed under Accommodation

Barceló are running a special promotion giving customers free 4 star accommodation when they buy breakfast and dinner for two. This applies to all bookings at their Basingstoke, Daventry, and Hinckley hotels during the month of August 2009. Barcelo hotels are ideally located for sight-seeing or relaxation, not to mention perks such as a free newspaper, leisure facilities, children’s games room and children’s activity packs.

A minimum of 2 adults must pre-purchase 2 full restaurant dinners and breakfasts for each night booked at the time of booking. For each adult a 3 course dinner is £22.50 and full English breakfast £13.95. Meals are free for children under 5 and half price for those under 12. All bookings are fully pre-payable at time of booking and non-refundable. There is a surcharge for credit cards of £2.00 per reservation. Promotional bedrooms are subject to availability and this promotion is valid from 1st to 31st August 2009. It is available at Barceló Basingstoke Country Hotel, Barceló Hinckley Island Hotel near Leicester, and Barceló Daventry Hotel, Northamptonshire. Offer subject to availability. 

Click here to book and enter the promotional code STAYFREE at the checkout in order to receive this special offer.

Picture of the day: Castle Howard, Yorkshire

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Posted by Jennifer on June 23, 2009 – 9:00 am
Filed under Attractions

Today’s picture of the day is of Castle Howard in picturesque Yorkshire.  It took over 100 years to complete with work beginning in 1699.  To this day it is still home to the Howard family and spreads over 1000 acres of parkland.  It features beautiful lakes and historic temples and monuments.  It is open to the public and inside visiors can see paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds and Holbein along with Sheraton and Chippendale furniture.

A taste of Bordeaux in London

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Posted by Paul on June 22, 2009 – 11:21 pm
Filed under Eating & Drinking, Events

Experience a gastronomic delight at The Capital Hotel in London when, on 3rd July 2009, culinary art will combine with the perfection of winemaking. Eric Chavot, Executive Chef of the hotel’s two Michelin star restaurant, and João Pires, Wine Director, have created a special five-course menu to complement the magnificent wines from Château Pavie. Guests will have the pleasure of dining with the vineyard’s owner as he shares his knowledge and wisdom of his château and the world of French winemaking.